Chicken Pox!

What Is Chickenpox?

Chickenpox is caused by a virus called varicella zoster. People who get the virus often develop a rash of spots that look like blisters all over their bodies. The blisters are small and sit on an area of red skin that can be anywhere from the size of a pencil eraser to the size of a dime.

What Happens When You Have Chickenpox?

Chickenpox may start out seeming like a cold: You might have a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and a cough. But 1 to 2 days later, the rash begins, often in bunches of spots on the chest and face. From there it can spread out quickly over the entire body — sometimes the rash is even in a person's ears and mouth.

A person who has chickenpox can pass it to someone else by coughing or sneezing. When he or she coughs, sneezes, laughs, and even talks, tiny drops come out of the mouth and nose. These drops are full of the chickenpox virus. It's easy for others to breathe in these drops or get them on their hands. Before you know it, the chickenpox virus has infected someone new.

Itchy-Itchy, Scratchy-Scratchy

If you are that unlucky person, how do you keep your chickenpox from driving you crazy? They itch, but you're not supposed to scratch them.

These tips can help you feel less itchy:

• Keep cool because heat and sweat will make you itch more. You might want to put a cool, wet washcloth on the really bad areas.
• Trim your fingernails, so if you do scratch, you won't tear your skin.
• Soak in a lukewarm bath. Adding some Pinetarsol to your bath water can help relieve the itching.
• Have your mum or dad help you apply diluted Pinetarsol, which soothes itching.
• If you have a really bad case, Phenargen is an antihistamine - It will relieve the itchy feeling and also works as a child safe sedative.